Governor's office says search and rescue teams in state aircraft sent to Jefferson, Shelby counties

MONTGOMERY, Alabama --- Gov. Robert Bentley’s office has announced that rescue personnel and trained medics in state aircraft have been sent to Jefferson and Shelby counties because of the winter storm.

Motorists have been stranded throughout the Birmingham metro area since Tuesday because of the frozen roadways.

Robyn Litchfield, spokeswoman for the Alabama Department of Public Safety, said DPS had three helicopters in the Birmingham area. The first one launched at 7:30 a.m.

Litchfield said Alabama State Troopers are urging people to stay off the roads except for emergencies because travel is still too risky and drivers could hinder rescue and road-sanding efforts.

The governor's office also tweeted that about 4,000 students remain in schools statewide. The schools are warm, have food and have "great teachers and principals caring for children," the governor's office tweeted.

In another tweet, the governor's office said roads remain treacherous and that Interstate 20 in the the Leeds area is a priority.

This story was updated at 9:32 a.m. to say that DPS had three helicopters in the Birmingham area.